Cylinder supporting and protecting means



Npv. 1 9, 1940. FARRAR 2,221,967

CYLINDER SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING MEANS Filed Sept. 18, 1935 I 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MERCER G. FARRAR BY ATTORNEY Nov. 19, 1940. M.e. FARRAR CYLINDER SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING MEANS Filed Sept. 18, 19352 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MERCER s. FARRAR BY ATTORNEY Patented Nov.19,, 1940 UNITED STATES- CYLINDER SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING MSApplication September is, 1935, Serial No. 41,022

22 Claim This invention relates to compressed fuel-gas equipment, andmore particularly to supporting and protective means for fuelgascylinders.

Steel cabinets have generally been used to house 6 the steel cylinderscontaining compressed fuel gases and the auxiliary equipment connectedto such cylinders .to supply these gases for domestic heating purposes.Such cabinets are permanently installed outside a dwelling and protectthe cylinders and their associated equipment against unauthorizedtampering and harmful efiects of the weather.

These cabinets are relatively expensive, heavy, and cumbersome to handleand install and they 15 usually accommodate but=two standard sizecylinders and their auxiliary equipment. Moreover the doors to suchcabinets often are difficult to open, and especially when ice orsnowaccumulates in front of them.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a lighterand less expensive supporting and protecting means for fuel-gascylinders; to provide means to satisfactorily protect one or morefuel-gas cylinders and their auxiliary 2!! equipment, and to lock themin secured position; and to provide a unit capable of supporting andprotecting a. single cylinder so constructed that a. plurality of suchunits may be secured together in a multiple assembly to support. andprotect any desired number of fuel-gas cylinders and their auxiliaryequipment. These and other objects as-well as the novel features of theinven tion will become apparent from the following description and theaccompanying drawings, in 35 whichs,

Fig. "1 is a front elevational view partly in section of oneform of anapparatus embodying the Fig. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment shown inFig. l; Fig. 4 is a. detail view of the locking means, as taken on theline 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and'6 are respectively plan and fragmentary frontelevationalviews of another form of an apparatus embodying principles ofthe invention;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational :view partly in section of a furthermodified form of an apparatus for carrying out the features ofthe'invention;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the appaward to form supportingears IS. A pair of bonratus shown in Fig. 7, with a second apparatusshown in skeleton lines secured thereto;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a shield such as is used with theapparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6; and 5 Fig. 10 is a perspective view ofa modified form of. dome-locking means shown holding the dome in partlyopen position.

The cylinder supporting and protective means comprises essentially'a.base, a column project- 10 ing upwardly from the base, and a domepivotally secured to the upper portion of the column for enclosing thetop of a cylinder, its outlet connections, and the usual cylinder valve.Cover plates are provided for protecting such associated parts as aregulator, mercury seal, etc.

Referring again to the drawings and more especially to Figs. 1 to 4, apreferred form of the invention comprises a base or platform plate It]which may consist of sheet metal, molded composition material, or castmetal, but I prefer to use wood, as it possesses the combined desirablequalities of lightness, strength, and low cost. The wood preferablyshould be impregnated previously with creosote or a preserving solutionto retard decay, and to resist deterioration by insects. Cleats ll,fastened along the shortedges of the base or platform plate I0, secure'the respective sections of the base I0 together. A column or standard I2, consisting preferably of a channel, extends vertically upward fromthe base, ID at the middle of the back edge, and is secured to the baseby any convenient means, as bolts l3, extending from flanges It turnedoutwardly from the bottom of the channel column l2, through the baseIII. A brace or bracket l5, shown in the drawings as a channel, extendsangularly from the forward middle portion of the base it to anintermediate position of the column I2 and is secured at either end asby bolts. A sidewardly and 40 preferably forwardly extending cover plateor cross-arm I6 having a downwardly depending portion fl extendstransversely of and preferably rests horizontally on the top of thechannel column I! and-is secured to the web of the channel as by boltsl8 extending through the portion H. The cover plate I 6 preferablycomprises a generally rectangular sheet of metal, the two forwardcorners of wh. :h are bent vertically upnets 0! domes 20, preferablycomprising dished sheets of metal, are pivotally secured at either sideof the cover plate I 6 by diagonally positioned hinges 21 securedrespectively to the dome and the cover plate in any convenient manner.Each dome 20, which normally encloses the top of a fuel-gas cylinder Cby resting upon the supporting ears l9, may be raised upwardly intodisengaged position until the side of the dome rests upon the coverplate I8.

Catches 24 for holding the domes in normal locked position consist ofstrips of metal secured to the outer side of the respective domes 20,

, bent inwardly at their lower end a short distance toward the center ofthe respective domes as shown in Fig. 4. The cover plate I9 is providedwith two apertures 22 located near the catches the locking bar 23 ispivoted to the open position,

the catches 24 may be lifted out through the apertures 22 by pressingthe domes together slightly The slight motion necessary to disengage thecatches 24 is produced by the natural resilience of the domes which alsotends to keep the catches 24 in engaged position, even when the lockingbar 23 is in the open position.

I may prefer to use the dome-locking means illustrated in Fig. 10 whichcomprises a catch or latch formed as an eyebolt and pivoted at its upperend to the side of the dome 29. The lower end is threaded to adjustablyreceive a nut 40 which may be held in position by a lock nut 90. Thecover plate It is slotted or apertured as at 14 to receive the latchwhen the dome is being locked. The regulator protecting hood or shield39 preferably locks against the bar 23 which is permanently fastened tothe cover plate. The shield closes the end of. the slot I4 when in thelocked position, and prevents the latch 30 from being moved to the openposition. When the shield 39 is removed, the latch 39 may be disengagedby. a forward motion. The latch 39 may rest upon the cover plate I. tohold the dome 20 in partly open position as shown in Fig. 10. Referringnow to Fig. 1, a gas-pressure regulator or expansion valve 26 is heldfast against the under side of the cover plate ii at a position near thecolumn I2 by means of a machine screw 21 or other equivalent means. -Anipple 28 connects the high-pressure side of the regulator 29 with apair of intercommunicating shut-oil. valves 3| and 32 having a singlehousing and having operating hand wheels angularly disposed to oneanother. Cylinder leads 33 and 34, comprising sections of bent tubing,communicate respectively with the usual individual cylinder valves atthe top of cylinders C and the valves 3| and 32. The valves 3| and 32control the distribution and flow .of gas from either cylinder to theregulator, one

of the valves normally being closed while the other is open. The lowpressure discharge port of the regulator is connected with a closelyadjacent standard-type mercury seal 39 housed within the channel l2. Theflanges of the channel |2 are apertured to receive the discharge pipe36, which extends from the mercury seal through one flange aperture tothe distribution system. The mercury seal 35 is firmly held in positionby the fixed regulator and by the abutment of the pipe 33 with the wallsof the aperaaancev ture in the channel flange. The sides of the mercuryseal 35 preferably engage the inner walls of the channel l2, serving asadded protection and support. The regulator 29 faces the opening betweenthe two cylinders as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with apressure-adjusted protecting screw 31, the head ofwhich projects axiallyand horizontally from the regulator housing.

An eyebolt 38 projects forwardly from the web of the column 2 to serveas a hinge -for a front shield 39, shown in the disengaged position infull lines in Fig. I, and in broken lines in Fig. 2.

The hood or shield 39 consists preferably of a lator from exposure totampering. The shield 39 is provided with an aperture 42 for straddlingthe head of the screw 31, which the walls of the aperture. may abut toprovide extra support for the shield. The front edge of the cover platel9 and the top of the shield 39 are provided with apertures 43 and 44respectively which align when the shield is in the closed or operativeposition. The yoke of a padlock 49 may be passed through the apertures43 and 44 to lock the shield 39 in its normal position. Before theshield 39 can be moved into closed position, the bar 23 must be in thelocking position as shown in Fig. 2. When the shield 39 is locked to thecover plate l9, the bar 23 cannot move into the open position because ofthe abutting relation between the top vertical portion of the shield 39and the bar 23, as shown in Fig. 2. A single lock thus holds the domes29 and the shield 39 in operative locked position against the coverplate l6 so as to protect the associated enclosed parts from exposureand damage. Conversely opening a single lock allows the domes 2||to beraised for inspection or substitution of cylinders andpermits the shield39 to drop into open position so as to expose the regulator 23 andvalves 3| and 32.

The projection of the screw 31 through the shield 39 permits thepressure to be adjusted without unlocking the device. If preferred theaperture 42 may be omitted so as to prevent unof the shield 39 engagethe handles, while the cylinders C, column l2, and the shield 39 hidethe handles from view. Hinging the domes to the cover plate provides asimple and efilcient means for lifting the domes 23 out of normalposition.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5,

6, and 9, and in the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8,

certain features have been modified. Since many of the parts areidentical with those shown in Figs. 1 to 4, only a brief description ofthese parts column I! and domes 26 pivotally secured to the cover plateIS. A regulator 26 is mounted on each of the opposite flanges of thechannel column II. The high-pressure inlet 46 and the low-pressureoutlet 41 are diametrically located on the cylindrical portions of eachregulator. A cylinder lead 46 extends from each of the high-pressureconnections of the regulator 26 to the individual cylinder valveconnection of a compressed fuelgas cylinder C. A m rcury'seal35 dependsfrom and communicates with each low pressure outlet M.- The outlets fromthe two mercury seals 35 are connected to a three-way cock .9 which isadapted to shut off the flow from either cylinder C and to convey thelow-pressure fuel gas from the other cylinder C to an outlet pipe 36, orto shut both ofi. An arrow-shaped handle 5| indicates the direction offlow within the threeway cock 59. With two regulators and two seals, itis possible to continue using gas from one cylindereven should oneregulator or one mercury seal be rendered inoperative.

' and to provide a shield for the regulators 26 and mercury seals 35, asfor instance by the method employed in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to4. However, I may provide each dome with a member 52, extending from thebottom of the dome horizontally toward one another and having a portionturned upward at the end of each member 52 so that the portions comeadjacent one another, as shown in Fig. 6. A hood or shield 53 is pivotedon the cover plate l6 by means of a hinge element, such as an eyebolt54, and is apertured as at 55 to receive the upturned portions of themembers 52 and hold them in intimate contact. The shield 53 bendsinwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, and is apertured as at 56so that the slotted lug 51 formed on the three-way cock 49 may projecttherethrough. The yoke of a lock 58 may be passed through the slottedlug 51 to hold the shield 53 against the cock 9, and to thus hold thedomes down in operating position. Preferably the shield 53 comes soclosely adjacent to the arrow-shaped handle 6i that when the shield islocked the position of ,the cock cannot be changed from the right orleft position; The shield 53 may be apertured as at 59 to receive eitherend of the handle 5| so as to lock the cock in the off position. Theform of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4may also be provided with acook or cocks having a pointer handle.

While either of the foregoing forms of the invention may be made with asingle cylinder base, I prefer to provide a base capable of supportingtwo cylinders. The structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4 adapts itself wellfor use with one cylinder as the only addition necessary when adding asecond cylinder is the cylinder lead. If desired, the dome for thesecond cylinder may be removed by sliding out the hinge pin when onlyone cylinder is needed.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7

by other convenient means. Extending laterally from the mercury-sealingunit 35 is an outlet .tube 62, preferably a metal tube or pipe ofsubstantial rigidity. A three-way cock I9 is provided at the oppositeextremity of the tube 62 to control the distribution 01' gas. Extendingupwardly from the mercury seal 35 is a conduit or tube 63which is bracedagainst the supporting column II. This tube 63 communicates with, andserves as a mounting means for the regulator, or expansion valve 26. Ashield 64 shown in the drawings as a piece of curved metal secured tothe column I2 partially encloses the tube 63 and serves as a protectionfor the tube against damage which might otherwise result irom violentcontact with the cylinder C, as during installation.

A cylinder lead 65 comprises ,a spiral turn of tubing, one end of whichconnects with the regulator 26, the other end of which normally connectswith the individualvalve outlet of the fuelgas cylinder C. Theindividual cylinder valve, (not shown) cylinder lead 65, the regulator2%, tube 63, and mercury seal 35 are all protected from exposure to theweather by being enclosed within the dome 20, pivotally mounted as by ahinge to the upper portion of the supporting column I2. The dome 26 isprovided with a form of bayonet slot 66 adapted to receive the outturnedend of a dome supporting rod 6?. The other end of the rod 61 is joinedpivotally to the supporting column l2 as shown. The dome may thus beraised or tilted backwards to expose 'the cylinder, locating and lockingit in place, be-

sides quite completely sealing off the chamber within the dome, thusguarding the enclosed parts against unauthorized tampering, andshielding the parts from exposure to weather conditions. The dome may besecured in the lowered or operating position by any suitable lockingmeans.. An arbitrary arrangement is disclosed in Fig. 7 wherein thebayonet slot 66 is provided with an enlarged portion close to itsforward end to receive the yoke of a padlock 56 for locking the dome 20in operating position.

These complete units may be quickly secured one to another, to operatein multiple. This provides for an economical and flexible means toincrease or decrease the number of cylinders to be used at a singlelocation. In Fig. 8 of the drawings, a second unit, illustrated inbroken lines, is shown attached to the first. unit. A connecting rod 66,preferably threaded at both ends, joins the respective supportingcolumns, holding each rigidly in fixed relation to the other. Holes areprovided in the flanges oi" the supporting channels to receive the rod69, and adjustment is made with nuts provided at each end of the rod.

The respective bases are also secured adjacent to one another byconnecting means, such as bolts ll, extending between depending anglemembers 12 secured to the bases. Angle members I2 also serve to raisethe unit from a firm foundation surface andallow for free ventilationunder the platform or base I. The angles further may be used in securingthe base to a horizontal or vertical foundation surface. Even withoutadditional fastening means, these angles serve to anchor the base to theearth or other foundation and inhibit sliding tendencies of the baseduring cylinder replacement operations.

A tube 13 extends from the cock or valve 49 to the mercury seal of thesecond unit, providing additional connecting means and support. The cook49 is shown in Fig. 8 as being located midway between the two units. Ifdesired it may be placed nearer one of the units so as to be shelteredsomewhat by one of the domes 20. It will be noticed that eachof thefuel-gas units contains a regulator and a mercury seal, which allowseach to function independently of the other. Control of the flow of gasis effected in the low pressure section of the system.

By means of the present invention therefore the delicate instrumentsemployed as auxiliary equipment in a fuel-gas cylinder distributionsystem are protected from damage and exposure to weather. The cylinderis of sturdy construction and does not require the extra protectionafforded by a metal cabinet. Hence in the present invention a portion ofthe cylinder is exposed, resulting in a considerable saving both inweight and in the cost of the supporting and protecting means. It willbe noticed that when the dome has been lifted from its normal position,the cylinder may be'removed and replaced from the front or from eitherside, which adapts the improved cylinder supporting and protecting meansfor use in locations of limited area, and where insufficient room isavailable for I removing the cylinders from the front as is ordinarilynecessary with metal cabinets.

While the drawings and specification are directed to an apparatus forprotecting and supporting compressed fuel-gas cylinders, it is obviousthat cylinders of other fluids, such as oxygen, nitrogen, etc., may besubstituted for the fuel-gas cylinders if desired. Various othermodifications obvious to one skilled in the art may be made in theapparatus without departing from the scope of the invention as Icontemplate any structure defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for supporting twov gas-containing cylinders and for protectingthe upper ends thereof and auxiliary equipment'adjacent thereto, said'means comprising a cylinder-supporting base; a generally horizontal armextending near the top of and substantially from one cylinder to theother and being secured above and in fixed spaced relation to said base;and dome-shaped means adjustably mounted on said arm for enclosing thetop portion of each cylinder.

2. Cylinder supporting and protecting means comprising a base forsupporting a cylinder, 8. column extending upwardly from said base, agenerally horizontal arm secured adjacent to the top of said column, adome hinged to said arm for enclosing the entire top and upper wallportion of a cylinder disposed on said base; and means engaging saiddomefor retaining said hinged dome in normal spaced relation above the topof and away from the walls of said cylinder.

3. Fuel-gas cylinder supporting and protecting I means comprising ahorizontal base for supporting a fuel-gas cylinder, a column extendingupwardly from said base, a cover plate at the top of said column, a domepivotally mounted to said cover plate, and gas delivery means comprisinga regulator communicating with such cylinder, said regulator beingprotected by said cover plate and said dome.

4. A gas-dispensing device adapted to protect a pair of gas-containingcylinders positioned adjacentto one another, comprising a supportingcolumn extending upwardly intermediate said cylinders; a generallyhorizontal arm extending from opposite sides of said column toward therespective cylinders; movable dome-shaped means connected with said armfor enclosing the top portion of the respective cylinders when saidmeans is in one position, and for exposing the top portions of therespective cylinders when said means is lifted from said position; apressure regulator mounted adjacent to and in front of said column at apoint near the top thereof and between said cylinders whereby saidregulator faces the opening between said cylinders and is protected bysaid column and by said cylinders; and tubular means connecting saidregulator with said respective cylinders.

5. A dispensing device comprising a base adapted to hold at least twocylinders, a column extending upwardly from said base, a cover platesecured to the top of said column, a dome for enclosing the top portionof each cylinder pivotally mounted with respect to the cover plate, anda regulator protected by said cover plate.

6. A gas-dispensing device comprising a base for supporting a pluralityof gas-filled cylinders, a column extending upwardly from said base, a

generally horizontal plate mounted adjacent to the top of said column,dome-shaped means pivotally secured with respect to said plate, saidmeans normally enclosing the upper portion of the cylinders, means forinhibiting the motion of said dome-shaped means in a direction downwardfrom the normal position, and locking means to prevent said dome-shapedmeans from being lifted from the normal position.

7. A compressed fuel-gas dispensing device comprising a base forsupporting at least one fuel-gas cylinder, a column extending upwardlyfrom said base, an apertured plate at the top of said column, at leastone dome secured for pivotal movement with respect to said plate, saiddome normally enclosing the top portion of a compressed fuel-gascylinder; and a catch extending between said dome and said aperturedplate to secure said dome in normal locked position.

8. A compressed fuel-gas dispensing device comprising a base forsupporting at least one fuel gas cylinder, a column extending upwardlyfrom said base, an apertured cover plate at the top of said column, atleast one dome secured in pivotal relation to said cover plate, saiddome normally enclosing the -top portion of a compressed fuel-gascylinder, a catch secured to said dome for locking engagement with saidapertured plate, and a movable element forcing and maintaining saidcatch in engaging position.

9. A compressed fuel-gas supporting and prowtecting means comprising abase for supporting at least one fuel-gas cylinder, a column extendingupwardly from said base, a cover plate setecting means comprising a basefor supporting at least one fuel-gas cylinder, a column extendingupwardly from said base, a forwardly extending cover plate secured-tosaid column, pressure reducing mechanism beneath said cover plate, atleast one dome pivotally mounted with respect to said cover plate andnormally enclosing the top of a fuel-gas cylinder, and a shield formedof bent sheet material being pivotally mounted between said column andsaid coverplate.

.11. A fuel-gas cylinder distribution apparatus comprising a base forsupporting at least one cylinder, a column extending upwardly from saidbase, a cover plate secured to said column, at least one dome mounted.in pivotal relation to said cover plate, means positioned beneath saidcover plate connecting with each cylinder for reducing the pressure ofthe distributed gas, said means including a distributlon'cock forconveying gas from either cylinder, a handle on said cock capable ofindicating from which cylinder gas is flowing, and a shield extendingfrom said cover plate to said cock and being secured at both ends whenin the normal position, said shield being formed so as to lie in thenormal position flat against said handle to prevent said handle frommoving when gas flows through said distribution cock.

, 12. Cylinder supporting and protecting means comprising a platform forsupporting a cylinder a column extending vertically therefrom; means forengaging the sidewall of a cylinder for inhibiting sidewise displacementof said cylinder on said platform, and comprising a diagonal braceextending from said column to said platform; and a dome,secured adjacentto the top of said supporting column, said dome enclosing the top ofsaid cylinder when in the operating position.

13. The combination with a fuel-gas cylinder,

'of a cylinder-supporting base, a column, a dome hinged with respect tothe top of said column, and normally enclosing the top of said cylinder,a cylinder lead, an outlet tube, a pressure regulator supported by saidcylinder lead and said outlet tube, said regulator being positionedabove said cylinder and being shielded by said dome, and means forlockingsaid dome in the normal enclosing position.

14. The combination with a cylinder, of a base, a supporting column, adome secured adja- .cent to the upper portion of said column andnormally enclosing the upper portion of said cylinder, and reinforcingmeans extending angularly between said base and said supporting colplateand normally enclosing the top of a fuelgas cylinder, and a shieldpositioned adjacent to and in front of the pressure reducing mechanismfor protecting it from exposure.

16. A compressed fuel-gas dispensing device comprising a base forsupporting at least one fuel-gas cylinder, a column extending upwardlyfrom said base, a cover plate at the top of said column, at least onedome secured-in pivotal relation to said cover plate, means forselectively locking said dome to said cover plate, each of said domesnormally enclosing the topportion of a compressed fuel-gas cylinder, anda shield, pivotally secured at one end to the forward side of saidcolumn, and being normally held at the other end against said coverplate, said shield normally holding said means in the locking'position.

17. A fuel-gas dispensing apparatus comprising a base, a columnextendingupwardly from said base, a cover plate at the top of said column, atleast one dome movably secured to said cover plate, a gas regulator anda distribution cook or valve secured together in operative relation, andbeing positioned beneath said cover plate in front of said column, and ashield having a configuration permittingjit to come closely adjacent tosaid regulator and to said distribution cock to protect them fromexposure.

18. A fuel-gas dispensing apparatus comprising a base, a coluir'mextending upwardly from said base,'a cover plate at the top of saidcolumn,

at least one dome movably secured to said cover plate, a gas regulatorand a distribution cock or valve secured together in operative relation,and being positioned beneath said cover plate and adjacent to saidcolumn, and a shield having a configuration permitting it to comeclosely adjacent to said regulator and to said distribution cock toprotect them from exposure, said regulator having an adjustment screw,and said shield being provided with an aperture aligned with the saidscrew was to permit adjustment of the screw while said shield is in thenormal position.

19. A fuel-gas cylinder supporting and protecting means comprising abase for supporting at least one cylinder, a column extending upwardlyfrom said base, a cover plate secured to said column, at least one domemounted in pivotal relation to said cover plate, means protected by saiddome and said cover plate connecting with each cylinder for reducing thepressure of the distributed gas, said means including a distributioncock for conveying gas from either cylinder, a handle on said cockhaving a configuration capable of indicating from which cylinder gas isflowing, and a shield connecting at its extremities with said coverplate and said cock when in the normal position, said shield beingformed so as to lie in the normal position flat against said handle toinhibit movement of said handle when gas flows through it, said shieldbeing apertured to receive in the normal position either end of saidhandle while said cock is in the 01! position, said shield therebyinhibiting motement of said cock when said shield is in the normalposition.

20. Ina cylinder-supporting and protecting flange of said column to saiddistribution cook,

for securing adjoining gas dispensing unitsjtogether.

21. Ina gas distribution system, the combination comprising a platformfor supporting a fuel 15 upright standard having at its upper extremitya protecting device for the valves of adjacent cylinders and for apressure regulator assembly connected to said valves, said protectingdevice comprising a cross-arm, valve protecting bonnets cartied atopposite ends of said cross-arm and adapted to enclose said valves, aregulator protecting luod associated with said cross-arm intermediateits ends adapted to enclose at least a portion of said regulatorassembly, the bonnets of said protecting device being movable withrespect to said valves and the hood of said protecting device beingmovable with respect to said regulator assembly,and means for lockingthe bonnets and hood of said protecting device in place.

' MERCER G. FARRAR.

